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Good Form, my boy, Good Form!

Audio Sequencing Tools like Reason, I’ve realized are really, really powerful teaching tools. I guess, the value of such software on a few levels. The music that most of our students hear on a regular basis, particularly in the genre of pop use a tremendous amount of such software. A way of engaging kids in the material is to let them know that they are using software that stars like Rihanna and Ke$ha are singing to.

Perhaps more important is the power that audio sequencing tools can have in helping kids understand the concept of form (or sequencing.). When I was playing around in Reason, I kept thinking to myself “where do I begin,” and I imagine its a question that a lot of kids will have as well. There are so many instruments and effects that its easy to get overwhelmed. I found that thinking about structure really helped ground me. I thought “lets right a chorus,” and looked to write 4 bars that would repeat itself in my song. Teaching form and then allowing students to both play with existing forms, and make their own I think is a great way of using Reason. Moreover, once students truly master concepts like form, they can start writing tunes like they hear on the radio; who knows, we might inspire the next amazing artists! I have attached my creative ramblings in Reason below! Enjoy!